High performance compute resources for EPSRC communities (Grant)

Apply for funding to provide high-performance compute resource for engineering and physical sciences research communities.You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding.EPSRC will invest in compute resources that deliver either: • CPU resources that meet an identified need of EPSRC compute user communities • Enable the EPSRC community to fully exploit GPU architectures £20,000,000 (100% FEC) capital and £5,000,000 (80% FEC) resource funding is available.Equipment spend must be incurred in the first quarter of the award. The award can run for up to four years. Demand management Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity. Aim The provision of national high-performance computing in the UK is changing. To support the engineering and physical sciences research communities to take advantage of these changes, EPSRC will provide funding for compute hardware through this opportunity. This funding opportunity aims to support investments in compute hardware that deliver against (at least) one of two outcomes: • provides CPU resources to meet an identified need of compute user communities within EPSRC remit • enables the engineering and physical sciences community to fully exploit GPU architectures to conduct world-leading research Proposals must clearly identify which of these aims they will deliver against and detail how they will do so in their application. Scope This funding opportunity has a budget of: • £20 million for compute hardware to be spent in financial year 2026 to 2027 • £5 million for resource over four years EPSRC expects multiple awards to be made. The value per award is not fixed. Applicants should request an appropriate capital and resource budget for the work they propose in line with the intended outcomes of the opportunity. Intended Outcomes The outcomes associated with the aims of the opportunity are detailed below. Applicants should detail how they will deliver these outcomes. For applications that propose to provide a CPU resource which meets the needs of compute user communities within EPSRC remit, you must: • Explicitly identify the user community or communities that these resources will serve • Explain why current CPU provision does not meet the needs of this community • Detail a plan for working with other CPU compute resources, user communities, and UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure investments to support users to adapt to changing CPU provision in the compute landscape For applications that propose to provide a GPU resource that will enable the engineering and physical sciences community to fully exploit GPU architectures to conduct world-leading research, you must: • Explicitly identify the user community or communities that they will serve. For example: a. An established compute user community that has traditionally used large amounts of CPU compute and would benefit from some tailored GPU provision to exploit the capabilities of the National Compute Resources. b. A new compute user community whose science has not previously been suited to national compute facilities and who need a boost in dedicated compute to best utilise the National Compute Resources. • Explain why current GPU provision does not meet the needs of this community OR explain why this resource will act as a stepping stone in upskilling this community to take full advantage of national GPU based compute resources • Detail a plan to ensure this resource is strategically integrated into the UK compute landscape, including a vision for how the identified user community will mature as users of GPU compute over the lifetime of the resource Integration with the digital research infrastructure landscape Applications are welcome for both the purchase of hardware to • establish a new computing resource • augment or bolster an existing computing resource The application should detail how the proposed resource will deliver value for money for the duration of the service, and the approach to environmental sustainability EPSRC will consider portfolio balancing as part of this funding opportunity. We will ensure that investments made as part of this opportunity: • are not duplicative of each other • complement current UK compute provision, including investments made via the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure Programme Applications should detail how they will work with and complement other compute investments. Risk management and security Applicants must contact EPSRC prior to

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility, and organisations who are based overseas. Check if your organisation is eligible UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) individual eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit UKRI’s eligibility page . Who is eligible to apply To submit an application to this opportunity, you must contact and meet with the EPSRC Research Infrastructure team to discuss your procurement and ‘Trusted Research & Innovation (TR&I)’ plans.Email researchinfrastructure@epsrc.ukri.org with the subject ‘OPP1335: Applicant conversation to arrange this meeting’.You must contact EPSRC to arrange this meeting by 29 September 2026. Who is not eligible to apply Applications from those that have not met with the Research Infrastructure team prior to submission will not be considered. International researchers The UKRI-RCN Money Follows Cooperation Agreement does not apply to this funding opportunity. As such grants submitted to this funding opportunity cannot include a Norway-based project co-lead (international).You should include all international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. Resubmissions We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder.Find out more about EPSRC’s resubmissions policy . Equality, diversity and inclusion We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes: • career breaks • support for people with caring responsibilities • flexible working • alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Click here to start an application on the UKRI Funding Service https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1335/apply/1363 We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system. The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application. Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI. To apply Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page. • Confirm you are the project lead. • Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. • Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page. • Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office. • Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing. • Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI. Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant. When including images, you must: • provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit). • insert each new image onto a new line. • use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format. Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include: • sentences or paragraphs of text • tables • excessive quantities of images A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column. For more guidance on the Funding Service, see: • how applicants use the UKRI Funding Service • how research offices use the UKRI Funding Service • how reviewers use the UKRI Funding Service References References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to t